PROPERTY OF THE
LrBRARif
I.JUV 3 1975
ANNUAL STATISTICAL REVIEW
Prellmlnc:uy Report
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAt<OLINA
AT GREENSBORO
FOOD AND
NU.TRITION
PROGRAmS
FISCAL YEAR 1974
FNS - 129
2
FNS Program Reporting Staff
December, 1974
PREFACE
This preliminary review and analysis of Food and Nutrition Service programs covers their progress during
fiscal year 1974. There are two major program areas: Family Food Assistance including the ~=ood Stamp
and Food Distribution Programs; and Child Nutrition including the National School Lunch, School Breakfast,
Special Food Service, Nonfood Assistance and Special Milk Programs.
PREFACE
FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRESS
FAMILY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
FOOD STAMP
FOOD DISTRIBUTION
CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS
NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH
SCHOOL BREAKFAST
SPECIAL FOOD SERVICE
NONFOOD ASSISTANCE
SPECIAL MILK
Table: Summary of Food and Nutrition Service
Programs- United States
CONTENTS
Page
3
4
6
8
9
11
12
14
15
16
17
19
3
4
FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRESS
The Food and Nutrition Service ( FNS) was established in August 1969 to concentrate exclusively on the
administration of Federal food programs in the Nation's drive to combat poverty-related hunger and malnutrition.
In the 5 years of the agency's history:
• The number of people getting help through family
food assistance programs more than doubled
to 15.1 million by the peak months of fiscal year
1972, and has hovered around that level since,
moving up as high as 15.5 million in the peak
months of fiscal year 197 4.
• Major factor in the growth of family food help
is the food stamp program, which by mandate
of Congress is now operating in nearly all U.S.
counties and cities.
• Food stamp benefits have increased sharply,
from an average monthly food buying bonus of
$6.60 in 1969 to $17.54 by the end of fiscal
197 4. Provisions were enacted to reappraise
the adequacy of food stamp assistance twice
FOOD PROGRAM FUNDING
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
CHILD NUTRIIION
FOOD STAMPS
FOOD DISTRIBUTION
1590
1190
894 ~ ~ 68 69 70
2893
71
each year to keep benefits in line with food
price changes.
• Virtually all needy Americans had access to family
food assistance by the end of fiscal 1974.
Only a couple of counties remained uncommitted
to the food stamp program as the year
ended, whereas there were over 400 counties
without family food assistance in 1969.
• Federal funding for FNS food assistance activities
climbed to $4.7 billion in fiscal year 1974.
• The number of needy children receiving free and
reduced-price meals through the school lunch
program nearly tripled to 9.4 million in fiscal
year 1974.
4737
4172
72 73 74
. FISCAL YEAR
Funding totals include program benefits and Federal administrative costs.
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
II FOOD DISTRIBUTION .
D FOOD STAMP 10.5
7.0 6.5
5.9
3.2
3.5
1968 1969 1970
TOTAL PARTICIPATION
14.6
10.6
FAMILY FOOD PROGRAM PARTICIPATION
PEAK MONTH OF FISCAL YEAR .
15.3 15.5 15.1
11 .5 12.6
13.6
1971
FISCAL YEAR
1972 1973 1974
NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROqR~M
PEAK MONTH OF FISCAL YEAR
MILLIONS OF CHILDREN D • CHILDREN REACHED WITH FREE
OR REDUCED-PRICE LUNCHES 24.9 25.2 24.9
23.1
22.1
1968 1969 1970 . 1971
FISCAL YEAR
1972 1973 1974
5
6
FAMILY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Primary thrust of FNS family food assistance activity in fiscal year 1974 was to meet the mandate_ to
establish the Food Stamp Program as the primary means of food help to individual households by June 30,
1974. The mandate was substantially achieved with minimum reliance on the permitted exceptions where
program introduction was either impracticable or impossible.
By the June 30 target date, the Food Stamp Program was available in areas where over 94 percent of the
U.S. population lives; with virtually all the rest covered by the alternative program of direct food distribution.
Most of the remaining food distribution areas had firm plans to switch to food stamps early in the fiscal year
beginning July 1, 1974.
During fiscal year 1974:
• A total of 15.5 million people benefited from
one or the other family food assistance programs,
in the peak month of operation, up 200,000 over
the previous year. A rising share, 88 percent, of
these participants were food stamp users, reflecting
the transfer of 593 counties from food distribution
to food stamps.
• Of the total receiving family food help, 8.6 million
people were on some form of public assistance
and 6.9 million, or 45 percent, were not.
This compares with 6 million, or 39 percent,
non-public assistance recipients the previous
year.
PARTICIPATION
FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION
• Federal payments for family food assistance
benefits were up 22.4 percent to $2.9 billion,
with food stamp costs representing 93.5 percent
of the total.
• Some $2 million worth of donated foods and
food stamps were used to aid some 250,000
victims of such natural disasters as floods, hurricanes,
and tornadoes. Need for disaster assistance
was down considerably from fiscal year
1973, when $13.1 million was spent on emergency
food aid to almost 1 million people, most
of them victims of Hurricane Agnes.
FY 1974
COMPARED
TO FY 1973
(MILLIONS OF RECIPIENTS-PEAK)*
FY 731:, ,f .+i:.: . t~~." 1 2.7 1
TOTAL 15.3
FY 74 UP 1.3%
(MILLIONS OF DOLLARS) 240.9
FY 731 ,~t~1\4 .1/1
TOTAL 2,372.3 189.3
F"Y 74 u...l. · ...W .;'lW··'. ....:"...._'W.;j' ~ .. ... )~_J..••.·.. 1..". "'""::-:"::::":~~]; ru;U~P 22.4%
TOTAL 2,903.4
[2j FOOD STAMP
D FOOD DISTRIBUTION
*Participation figures represent the rnonth
in which the combined programs reached a peak.
PARTICIPATION IN FAMILY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
AS A PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION, FY 1974
(PRELIMINARY)
HAWAIIAN
ISLANDS
r;··<DI~ PARTICIPATION
RANGE ~~ g Under5%
i~ll)~ ~)(~~,.,. X.~~ I~ TRUST TERRITORY
PUERTO RICO [ ~=£
VIRGIN ISLANDS
~~
II~ I
~~~•ou l
5% To 10%
10% To 15%
D Over15%
7
8
FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
The Food Stamp Program- started on a pilot basis in 1961 and enacted into law in 1964- enables lowincome
households to buy more food of greater variety to improve diets. Participants pay a specified amount
of money, based on family size and income, and receive an allotment of coupons worth more than they paid,
when spent for food at participating stores.
In fiscal year 1974:
• Participation rose 11 .6 percent to 13.5 million
people, compared to 12.1 million the previous
year, as counties increasingly shifted from the
food distribution to the food stamp program.
• Recipients paid $2 million and received food
stamps worth a total $4.7 billion, giving them a
food buying bonus of $2.7 billion, up 27 percent
from the previous year.
• Food stamp benefits per person averaged $17.54
a month, up 20 percent from the previous year.
Coupon allotments are adjusted twice yearly,
according to food price changes.
• In line with the mandate to extend the program
nationwide, the number of project areas
rose to 2,818, as 593 counties switched from
food distribution to food stamps. As a result,
PARTICIPATION
(YEAR END)
FEDERAL COST OF BONUS STAMPS
94 percent of the U.S. population - up 11 percentage
points over the previous year - was in
food stamp program areas at the end of fiscal .
1974. And efforts were underway to complete
the switch to food stamps in virtually all remaining
areas of the country, including Guam,
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, by November,
1974. An exception was granted for Indian
reservations, extending their food distribution
option for 3 more years.
• The number of retailers authorized to accept
food stamps increased to 197,000, a gain of .
20,000 during the fiscal year. Included are
1,235 non-profit meal delivery service programs
for the elderly in line with program changes
permitting such operations to accept food stamp
coupons in payment for meals.
FY 73
FY 1974
COMPARED
TO FY 1973
UP 11.6%
TOTAL 13.5
(MILLIONS OF DOLLARS)
FY 731 2,131.4
FY74~1 __________2_ ,7_1_4_.1_ _________~ UP 27.3%
BENEFITS PER PERSON FY 731
~==========~ FY 741~...-_________ $_1_7_.5_4 __________ __. UP 20.1%
$14.60
~~ PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
D NON-PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
FOOD DISTRIBUTION
Since the 1930's, foods bought by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in its price-support and surplusremoval
activities have been donated for distribution to needy families through cooperating State and local
agencies.
In fiscal year 1974:
• An average of 2 million needy persons a month
received donated foods in some 682 project
areas - a decrease of 660,000 people from the
previous year. By the end of the year, participation
had reached a low of 1.4 million people-
1 million below the same month in the previous
year - as most areas completed the switch
to food stamps.
• Recipients received a monthly average of 23.4
pounds of food per .Person, costing the Government
$8.00.
• The food "package" included canned meat, and
poultry, fruits and vegetables, juices, milk,
cheese, egg mix, beans, peanut butter and other
staple foods.
• The Federal cost of foods donated to families
totaled $189.3 million, down 21 percent from
fiscal year 1973, as programs switched over to
food stamps.
In addition to the family toed distribution program, donated foods were also provided to needy
persons through:
CHARITABLE . INSTITUTIONS which provide meals to indigent patients and residents. The value of
food distributed declined by 8.8 percent to $25 million because of diminishing food surpluses.
SUPPLEMENTAL FOODS distributed to mothers and infants. The cost of these foods increased to
$15.2 million, from $13.3 million the previous year. Participation averaged 146,196 persons, with the
monthly cost of food per person averaging $8.66.
PARTICIPATION
(PEAK)
BENEFITS PER PERSON
(USDA COST PER MONTH)
(MILLIONS OF RECIPIENTS)
FY 731 2.8
FY 741
~------------------~
2.4
DOLLARS
FY 1974
COMPARED
TO FY 1973
DOWN 14.3%
FY73~~----------7·-~----------~
FY74~1 ___________a .o_o_ _________~ UP 5.8%
9
10
PILOT SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM FOR
WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN (WIC)
A Pilot Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). begun in January
197 4, provides cash grants to State health departments and comparable agencies to make supplemental foods
available to pregnant and lactating women, and infants and chilc;lren up to 4 years of age, through participating
health cl inics. The experimental program is being evaluated to determine its nutritional and health benefits as
well as to determine the effectiveness of various systems for delivering the food help.
By the end of fiscal year 197 4, the program had opened in 2~2 project areas serving 198,000 participants.
Federal payments for WIC in the first 6 months of operation were $11 .1 million, with the cost of food per
person averaging $17 .01 a 1)10nth. I
!
CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS
Through several Child Nutrition Programs, FNS provides cash and food assistance to help support food
services for children in public and nonprofit private schools, child care centers, settlement houses, summer day
camps and recreation centers.
During fiscal year 1974:
• The total number of meals· served in all Child
Nutrition Programs amounted to 4.4 billion,
about the same as in fiscal year 1973. The bulk
of the meals - 4 billion - were served in the
National School Lunch Program.
• The number of free and reduced-price meals
increased from 1.7 billion to 1.9 billion, a 12-
percent increase.
FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION TO
CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS
• Federal payments for all child nutnt1on programs
totaled $1.6 billion of which $1.2 billion
was in cash apportioned to the States and $320
million represented the Federal cost of donated
foods. The total expenditure was 12.6 percent
above that of a year earlier.
• Donated foods represented some 17 percent of
the $1.9 billion worth of food used in federallyaided
school feeding programs.
Ill cASH
D COMMODITIES
FY 1974
COMPARED
TO FY 1973
UP 12.6%
11
12
.. NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM
Oldest and largest of the child nutrition programs is the National School Lunch Program, enacted in
1946 to assist the States in establishing, maintaining, and expanding nonprofit lunch service in elementary and
secondary schools.
During fiscal year 1974:
• About 87,000 schools took part in the program,
1000 more than a year earlier. Thus, a school
lunch program was available to 85.5 percent of
the Nation's school enrollment.
• School lunch participation levelled off, paralleling
a steady decline in school enrollment. In
fiscal year 1974, participation peaked at 24.9
million, representing 57 percent of the children
enrolled in participating schools - about the
same percentage as the previous year, when
school lunch participation peaked at 25.2 million
children.
• The lunch program reached 9.4 million needy
children with free or reduced-price lunches,
compared to 9.0 million the previous year. These
lunches accounted for one out of every three of
the total 4 billion lunches served.
• The total cost of the National School Lunch
Program was nearly $3.2 billion. The federal
contribution was $1.4 billion or 44 percent.
The remainder came from State and local contributions,
including children's payments for
lunches.
The Federal contribution per lunch totaled 34.4 cents- 26.7 cents in cash and 7.7 cents in donated
foods. That was 14 percent higher than the previous year, due in part to new legislation increasing the rate of
Federal reimbursement and requiring semi-annual adjustments in the rates of payment, to keep pace with
food cost changes.
PARTICIPATION .
(CHILDREN REACHED-PEAK)
TOTAL LUNCHES SERVED
FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION
(MILLIONS OF RECIPIENTS)
FY 1974
COMPARED
TO FY 1973
FY 73 ~-<;: 16.2 I ~@t_~ .
FY 73
FY 74
FY 74
TOTAL 25.2
15.5
TOTAL 24.9
TOTAL 3,984.7
(I FREE/REDUCED PRICE
D PAID
(MILLIONS OF DOLLARS)
TOTAL 1,370.7
DOWN
1.2%
DOWN
0.6%
UP 13.8%
*Includes $70.8 million in cash in lieu of commodities.
I) cASH
D COMMODITIES
UNCH PARTICIPATION
ANSA PTEIORNCAENL TS COHF OUO.SL . LE N ROLLMENT, FY 1974
(PRELIMINARY)
NSLP
PARTICIPATION
RANGE
~ 75% and apove
D 34% and under
A PERCENT OF
FREE AND RETDHUECNEDA TPIROICNEA LRSEC CHIPOIOE~T~U~~H PROGRAM, FY 1974
PARTICIPATION IN (PRELIMINARY)
N. OAK.
S. OAK. wto.
NEBR.
f"'rT· ul ~ ~~
PARTICIPATION
RANGE
D 25% and under
13
14
SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM
Authorized on a limited basis in 1966, the School Breakfast Program was made available in 1973 to all
schools desiring it. The Federal Government provides cash and donated foods to States to assist in providing
school br!Jakfast service.
In fiscal year 1974:
• The breakfast program reached 1.6 million children,
23 percent more than the previous year .
More than 11 ,800 schools took part in the program,
a gain of 2,000 schools from fiscal year
1973.
• More than 83 percent of the 224.5 million meals
served under the program were provided free or
at reduced price to needy children.
• Federal contributions totaled $61 .9 million including
$6.7 million worth of donated foods
PARTICIPATION
(CHILDREN REACHED-PEAK)
TOTAL BREAKFASTS SERVED
FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION
and $55.2 million in cash reimbursement. The
total was 53.2 percent higher than the previous
year.
• The average Federal contribution per breakfast
came to 27.6 cents of which 3 cents represented
the value of donated foods. The contribution is
up 32.7 percent from the previous year-due in
part to new legislation increasing the rates of
Federal payment and providing for semiannual
adjustment of payment rates in line with food
price changes.
FY73
FY1974
COMPARED
TO FY1973
FY 741 ·: y}P~lY,;:;t t.$
1
f!L " 'I .3 UP23%
FY 73
FY 74
TOTAL 1.6
TOTAL 224.5
LJ FREE/REDUCED PRICE
0PAID
(MILLIONS OF DOLLARS)
FY 731 dJiii:' : •. "'] 5.81
FY 74
TOTAL 40.4
D COMMODITIES
LjCASH
TOTAL 61.9
UP 15.7%
UP 53.2%
SPECIAL FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM
The Special Food Service Program, started in 1968, provides assistance for meal service in year-round
day care centers and Head Start programs, primarily for pre-school children of low-income or working
mothers. In summer the program provides nutritious meals to needy school-age children in parks, playgrounds
and recreation programs.
In fiscal year 1974:
• The summer phase of the program reached 1.4
million children, about the same number as the
previous year. The year-round program served
358,000 children, a 59-percent gain over the
previous year. This is largely the result of a
transfer of responsibility for the food service
activities of Head Start Programs to the Special
Food Service Program.
• A total of 226.3 million meals were served, 23.7
percent more than the previous year. Over 70
AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE
(PEAK)
percent of the total was provided in the yearround
program.
• Over 8,300 centers were involved in the yearround
program and over 10,000 in the summer
activities, for a totai of 18,300. That compares
with 15,560 the previous year.
• Federal contributions climbed 38 percent to
$65.5 million. The summer activities accounted
for $35.6 million, while the year-round program
used $29.9 million.
FY 73
FY 74
(MILLIONS)
FY 1974
COMPARED
TO FY 1973
TOTAL 1,795.2
TOTAL MEALS SERVED FY 73~,, 117.6
TOTAL 183.0
161.3
TOTAL 226.3
(MILLIONS OF DOLLARS)
FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION FY 73 .i . IJISI 20.6
li)suMMER
OvEAR-ROUND
UP 23.7%
15
16
NONFOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The Nonfood Assistance Program helps State educational agencies to finance food service equipment to
enable schools in low-income areas to establish, expand and maintain food service programs. Schools receiving
the aid must take part in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs.
In fiscal year 1974:
• Total average daily attendance at schools receiving
nonfood assistance was 3.8 million chilren,
as compared to 3.1 million a year earlier.
• A total of $24 million was provided to assist
8,092 schools to buy equipment, of which $10.9
million went to 1,423 schools that had previously
been without food service. Expenditures
FEDERAL PAYMENTS
were up to 58 percent over the $15.2 million
used the previous year to aid 6,442 schools.
• The average expenditure per school rose to
$2,966, a gain of 26 percent over fiscal year
1973. The average was $7,700 per school in
those starting new programs; and $1,960 per
school in those with existing programs.
(MILLIONS OF DOLLARS)
FY 731 15.2 I
FY 1974
COMPARED
TO FY 1973
FY74LI_ __________24 _._o_ _________~ UP 58%
SPECIAL MILK PROGRAM
The Special Milk Program reimburses schools, child care centers, settlement houses, and summer camps
for part or all of the cost of milk served, and thus reduces the cost to the children. This program is especially
important where there is no regular food service.
In fiscal year 1974 milk served under the Special Milk Program totaled 1.5 billion half-pints, at a Federal
cost of $52 million.
(BILLIONS OF Y, PINTS)
NUMBER OF Y2 PINTS OF MILK
FY 731 2.6
FY74~'------1-.5------~
(MILLIONS OF DOLLARS)
FEDERAL PAYMENTS
FY 731 90.8
FY74~1 _____52 ._o ___~
FY 1974
COMPARED
TO FY 1973
DOWN 42.3%
DOWN 42.7%
17
18
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20250
SUMMARY OF FOOD AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS
PRELIMINARY FY 1974
I - TOTAL FEDERAL PAYMENTS FOR ALL FNS PROGRAMS
UNITED STATES
CASH COMMOOITIES TOTAL PERCENT OF U.S. TOTAL
Federal Payments (Millions) $3,996.3 $549.0 $4,545.3 100.0%
II -AVAILABILITY OF CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS
ITEM
TOTAL
PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE
SCHOOLS
NATIONAL
SCHOOL LUNCH
Number
Percent
of
Total
BREAKFAST
Number
Percent
of
Total
Ill - CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS1
NATIONAL SCHOOL
NONFOOD
ASSISTANCE
Number
Percent
of
Total
NONFOOD
ITEM TOTAL SCHOOL LUNCH BREAKFAST ASSISTANCE
Participants (peak reached)
Receiving Free and Reduced Price
Lunches (peak reached)
Total Meals Served
Percent Free and Reduced Price
Total Meals Served Daily
All Federal Payments
Total Program Cash Payments
State Administrative Expense (SAE)
Federal Cost of Commodities
Total Value of Food Used
Local Food Purchases
Federal Program Payments (E xcludin·g SAE)
Per Child
Per Meal (cents)
1 All numbers rounded to millions.
4,209.2
39.7%
23.4
$1 ,460.3
$1 ,140.3
$ 3.7
$ 316.3
$1 ,891.3
PROGRAM
24.9
9 .4
3,984.7
37.2%
22.1
$1,370.7
IV - SPECIAL MILK PROGRAM
Number of Outlets
Number of Half- Pints Served 1
Federal Payments 1
1 All numbers rounded to millions.
TOTAL
91 ,197
1,478.8
$52.0
SCHOOLS
85,102
1,377.8
$50.0
PROGRAM PROGRAM
1.6
1.3
224.5
83.4%
1.3
$61 .9
CHILD CARE SUMMER
INSTITUTIONS CAMPS
2,499 3,596
00.4 40.6
$1.2 $0.8
Number of Outlets (Peak)
ADA (Thous. Peak)
Total Meals Served (Mil.)
Percent Free Meals
V - SPECIAL FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM
10,243 8,373 Federal Payments
1,437.2 358.0 Cash
65.0 161.3 Commodities
98.1% 89.1% . Per Meal (Cents)
$34.7
$ 0.9
54.81/
UNITED STATES
$27.7
$ 2.2
18.51/
Institutions Receiving Nonfood Assistance Funds: Outlets 544 ADA 95,110 Dollars $800,795
VI - FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM . .1/
OUTLETS
Schools
Sections 32 and 416
Section 6
Special Food Service
Institutions
Year Round
Summer Camps
Needy Persons
Needy Families
Supplemental Food
Disaster Relief
TOTAL
PERSONS
PARTICIPATING
28.5
2.7
1.3
1.4
2.8
2.4
0.2
0.2
34.0
Cash Assistance to States for Needy Family Program
Total Program Cost (Cash and Commodities)
j./ All numbers rounded co millions.
POUNDS
961.0
833.9
117.3
9.8
107.9
96.6
11 .3
600.7
551.0
49.4
0.3
1,669.6
FEDERAL COST
FOR COMMODITIES
$319.4
248.9
67.4
3.1
25.0
22.4
2.6
204.6
189.3
15.2
0.1
$549.0
$ 11.9
$560.9
VII - SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM - WIC
232 0.2 $11 .1 $17.01 1
1
$2.1 million for Administrative, Clinical and Medical Cost is included in payments but excluded from benefits per person.
State
Total
PROJECTS
2,818
VIII - FOOD STAMP PROGRAM1
YEAR END
PARTICIPATION
(Milliohs}
13.5
TOTAL (Millions}
$4,724.3
COUPONS ISSUED
Total (Millions}2 Monthly Avg. Per Person
$2,714.1 $17.54
1 Does not include the Food Certificate Program which provided $824,710 in Food Certificates for 8,103 participants in four
project areas.
21ncludes Food Stamp Disaster Relief Program, which provided $1,912,942 in bonus stamps for 60,906 people in 56 project
areas.
19
Home Economics and Household Collection
